Chapter 17:

Team Building &

Training Dr. Patricia McDiarmid

Team BuildingTerm used to describe

approaches to improving the operation of teams

Team Building That Actually Builds Teams

The most important step when planning a team-building exercise comes at the very beginning: you must start by identifying what challenges your team faces. Only then can you choose exercises that will be effective in helping them work through these issues.

Basic Teamwork SkillsAssertivenessDecision-makingProblem-solvingCooperation Collaboration

Issues to Be Addressed When Building Teams

What keeps teams from being effective?What changes could improve a team’s effectiveness?What is the team doing effectively now that it wants to continue doing?

Main Priority When Building a Team

Developing a strong sense of belonging to the team BECAUSE unless team members identify with each other and view themselves as a team, it will be impossible to organize them to reach a common goal.

Set of Approaches***Goal settingInterpersonal relations skillsRole clarificationProblem solving

***Selecting the RIGHT approach to use depends on a diagnosis of a team’s problems

Organizational Context of Team Building

Sometimes organizations trying to implement teamwork fail to appreciate how current practices and culture might limit the ability of the teams to operate.

EXAMPLEIt is difficult to promote cooperation among team members when the organization only rewards individual performances…therefore…the context in which the team operates has a greater impact on performance than the internal competencies of team members

Evaluation & Reward Systems

Central organizational issue for a teamPerformance evaluation systems have the potential to provide a team with feedback that can be used to improve a team’s performanceReward systems provide motivation for the team members to work together

Top Management Mistakes

Fail to include teamwork in goals and reward systemsFocus only on financial issuesIgnore the value teamwork can have as a means of improving performacne

WHY Not Support Teambuilding?

Limited by expertise in teambuildingLack of availability of competent persons to orchestrate team-building programsDo not value the process of teambuilding or provide rewards for teams that engage in the processTeam members are skeptical of the value of teambuilding and are reluctant to spend time doing it

Let’s Take a Look at Types of Team

Building Programs…

Goal SettingClarifies team goalsDevelops specific objectivesDefine team tasks Establish action plansDevelop evaluation & feedback system to monitor the attainment of stated goals

Role ClarificationClarifies individual roles of team membersShared responsibility of team membersTeam members must be clear on personal role and the roles of others on a teamTeam members need to see themselves from the outside through the eyes of an observer or other team members

Interpersonal Process Skills

Team members learn to cooperate efforts and work togetherDecision-making, problem-solving, and negotiation are some of the process skills team members learn and masterProcess skills are best learned through activities such as a desert survival exercise

Cohesion BuildingFoster team spirit and build interpersonal connections among team membersIncrease trust and cooperation AND develops a groups’ identityStrengthens team morale, creates unity, a sense of belonging, and pride in the team

Problem SolvingTeam starts analyzing a problem togetherDiagnostic session clarifies problems and identifies team’s strengths and weaknessesDiagnosis stage ends with discussion as how to proceedAction plan developed to generate alternatives and develop solutions

Criteria for Effective Teams1. Clear/measureable goals2. Roles/assignments accepted by all team members3. Climate of trust, psychological safety, and support4. Effective problem-solving & decision-making5. Supportive leadership6. Constructive handling of conflict7. Open & participatory communication climate8. Supportive organizational culture9. Ability to monitor performance & make needed

changes

Symptoms of Ineffective Teams

1. Decrease in team performance2. Increase of team member complaints3. Unproductive conflicts among members4. Confusion about assignments & roles5. Misunderstood decisions6. Lack of involvement from team members7. Lack of initiative, creativity, or effective problem-

solving8. Ineffective meetings with low participation9. High dependency of the leader

Team Building Activity